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April 13, 2014

Endangered Plants of Transylvania

There are many endangered things in Romania and in Transylvania; animals, cultures, and natural resources are some of them. Many plants in Transylvania are also in danger of becoming extinct. There
are some plants for which Transylvania is the only place in the entire European
Union that they still exist. None of them is thriving in any way, and all are now under protection. Three of these are the Nepeta ucranica, the Goniolimon tataricum and the Centaurea
ruthenica.

The Nepeta crania, a part of the catmint family, is a
plant that currently survives in Transylvania and in north-eastern Bulgaria. There
are currently only six known locations that this plant grows in all of the European
Union. One of those places is the Tertiu Face. It is believed that the Nepeta
ucranica grew strong and in abundance there at one point in time, at least until
1983. At this time the ground that the Nepeta ucranica called home was turned
into grazing lands for sheep. The same thing happened at Parului Hill.

Next there is the Goniolimon
tataricum, also known as the German statice. This plant is a xeric sub-desert steppe species, because of its need for sandy soil and full sun. It is usually found
in extremely isolated areas now, if it is found at all. Most botanists will find it at the top of peaks in the mountain regions.
These peaks can be found on the Transylvanian Plains. There are approximately
12 locations where the Goniolimon tataricum grows. The
Transylvanian Plains is just one of those locations.

The third endangered plant found in the area is called Centaurea
ruthenica. This is one of the most, if not the most, endangered plant that
grows in the region of Transylvania. The Centaurea ruthenica (part of the Centurea or knapweed family) is a strain of the Centaurea
plant, of which there are 600 species. It is believed that the Centaurea ruthenica is the most primal of the
Centaurea strain. In the European Union there are only two small
populations of this plant. Both are located in Transylvania, in isolated
areas.

Some people
out there do not care, and they think that these are just plants. These plants are now known as national plants, especially the Centaurea ruthenica because
it only grows in Transylvania. All three plants are sensitive to human
encroachment. Humans are taking away the land that these plants are growing on
and making them into something else. The land where the Nepeta
ucranica was growing was made into grazing land for sheep. There is a reason
that the only areas these plants can grow are isolated. Humans have no use for
that isolated land, at least not yet.

People have to be aware of these things. People do not always think of these things when they are picking flowers that
they think will look nice on their kitchen table or in a window sill. Plants
needs to be protected as much as animals do.